Statistics of the incidence of notifiable infectious diseases in each sanitary district in England and Wales during the year 1915 (fifth year).

Date:
1916
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Statistics of the incidence of notifiable infectious diseases in each sanitary district in England and Wales during the year 1915 (fifth year). Source: Wellcome Collection.

    650/658 (page 6)
    Co-operation with other Government Departments.—The branch is in close touch with other Government Departments dealing with questions of food supply, and I have been designated to represent the Board on the Food (War) Committee, appointed by the Royal Society at the request of the Government to advise on matters concerning the food supply of the country. Arsenic in “ Baking Powder Substitute ” (Acid Calcium Phosphate).—As a result of action following the outbreak of poisoning in the year 1900 caused by the contamination of beer with arsenic, and of the interest aroused by the Report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into this occurrence, the people of this country have experienced for many years past a very satisfactory degree of immunity from contamination of articles of food and drink with arsenic. It is therefore of importance that any departure from these conditions should be investigated and recorded. In a letter dated September 23rd, 1916, Sir James Dobbie informed me that a sample of phosphate baking powder which had been sent with a tender for War Office supplies had been found at the Govern¬ ment Laboratory to contain 32 parts of arsenic per million. Inquiries were made at once by Dr. Hammond Smith into the origin of this sample. It was found that the firm tendering the sample to the War Office were merely mixers of the various ingredients which enter into the composition of such baking powders. In this instance the ingredients consisted of cream of tartar substitute (acid calcium phosphate), sodium bicarbonate and ground rice. Examination of these materials proved, as was to be expected, that all the arsenic was contained in the acid calcium phosphate used. This had been obtained by the baking powder manufacturer from a firm of dealers in the City who in turn had been supplied by a firm of chemical manufacturers in Scotland. As soon as they were informed of the facts both the baking powder manufacturer and the dealer who supplied him with the acid calcium phosphate took steps to recall from sale all the materials implicated which had been issued by them. The Scottish Local Government Board was informed of the facts with a view to having the matter brought to the notice of the Scottish chemical manufacturer concerned. The results of these preliminary inquiries suggested the immediate importance of ascertaining whether impure acid phosphate from other sources was being used in the preparation of food^materials, and it was arranged that I should send a circular letter to the Medical Officer of Health or other administrative officer of each of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts Authorities, informing him of what had been found. A circular letter dated the 16th October, 1916, was accord¬ ingly sent in which I pointed out the desirability of having special samples taken for examination by the Public Analyst of each district of such articles as baking powder, egg powder, self raising flour, cream of tarter substitute and other similar materials likely to contain acid calcium phosphate. At the same time I asked to be furnished with particulars of any samples in which arsenic was found. The replies to this letter which I received in the course of the next few weeks showed that in a large number of districts arsenic had been found in the samples examined. In the majority of cases however the amounts reported were relatively small and as judged by the limit laid down by the Royal Commission on Arsenical Poisoning, viz., of a grain of arsenic per pound (1*43 parts per million), did not call for special action. In some 50 cases the amounts reported were clearly excessive, reaching as much as 400